Area Sport Fishing Reports
Upper Copper/Upper Susitna
Archived Sport Fishing Report
June 14, 2023
ADF&G News
- Download the ADF&G Mobile App today. You can purchase and display your fishing license and king stamp, record your annual harvest (i.e. king salmon, halibut), access sport fishing regulations and locations, and so much more on your mobile device. You can also purchase your license and dipnetting permits online at the ADF&G online store.
- Also, check out ADF&G's new gofishak interactive map to discover popular fishing locations and information on species run timing, fishing gear selections, and boat and angler access tips.
Personal Use Fishing
- The Chitina Subdistrict Personal Use Dipnet Salmon Fishery will open at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 18 for a 96-hour opening. The personal use fishery will close at midnight on Sunday and reopen for a 144-hour period on 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, June 20 through midnight Sunday, June 25.
- During June 5 – 11, there were 99,611 salmon counted past the Miles Lake sonar. The preseason projection for this period was 90,944 salmon, resulting in a surplus of 8,667 salmon. However, the preseason projection for cumulative sonar passage through June 13 was 316,934 salmon, while the actual cumulative passage through June 13 was 204,176, resulting in a cumulative deficit of more than 112,758 salmon. It generally takes fish 10-14 days to reach the dip net fishery from the sonar counter. Call the Chitina Personal Use Fishery Hotline at 907-822-5224 for more information on the Chitina dipnet fishery.
Sport Fishing
Resident speciesFor a guide to where all the accessible fisheries are, check out Sport fishing Alaska rivers and lakes in the Upper Copper/Upper Susitna River Basin. This guide lists all the fisheries, species available and mile markers along all the major highways crossing the Upper Copper and Upper Susitna Area.All lakes and streams are open with the exception of Paxson and Summit Lakes. The south end of Paxson Lake is now open but there is still ice on the north end of the lake. At Summit Lake, some water is beginning to appear around the lake’s edges but it will probably be another week before it is open.
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Arctic grayling: Are still well distributed in area streams and lakes while they keep moving to their preferred summering waters. Try fishing some smaller lakes and their outlets. Near shore fishing in the larger lakes like Lake Louise and Paxson Lake should also be productive.
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Lake trout and burbot: Fishing should be excellent right now with fish starting to feed more heavily. Try fishing along the open water in Paxson and Summit Lakes between the shore and the floating ice. In Lake Louise and Susitna Lake, the fish should still be close to shore.
- Dolly Varden: Fishing at the mouth of Klutina Lake should be exceptionally good at this time of year. These Dollies get big and most are like little fat footballs.
Salmon
- Sockeye salmon: Sockeye are moving into the Klutina in ever larger numbers. Fishing should be good to excellent through the remainder of June. The river conditions are near perfect for targeting these fish. Also try the Gulkana River for sockeye. They are more of a challenge there, but worth the effort.
- King salmon: Copper River King salmon are returning in good numbers this year. Some Kings have already been caught in the Gulkana River and the run is just starting up. The Gulkana is flowing high and muddy so it will be a challenge to hook one of those famous kings, but where else are you going to go? Remember the Klutina River is closed to king salmon fishing until July 1.
Emergency Orders
Please review the Emergency Orders and Advisory Announcements listed at the top of this report in their entirety before heading out on your next fishing trip. Also, be sure to review the 2023 Northern Sport Fishing Regulations Summary Booklet for the area you are fishing before you head out.
Press Release
For more information
For more information, please call the Glennallen office at (907) 822-3309.